How to Pack Glasses for Moving: Glassware Packing Guide

Whether it’s opulent champagne flutes or joyful beer mugs, elegant wine glasses or colorful juice tumblers, exquisite crystal bowls or beautiful glass vases, you certainly have plenty of glassware in your home. It is both practical and pretty to look at – and, more often than not, quite valuable (either monetarily or sentimentally) as well.

There is no doubt, then, that when moving house, you’ll want to keep your glassware and take it to your new home along with the rest of your cherished possessions.

Moving glasses, however, is not an easy task – they’re extremely delicate and fragile and easily susceptible to damage during transit. Glass items need excellent protection and great care in order to survive the move in one piece – and as usual, proper packing is your first and most important line of defense.

Packing glassware for moving can be a little tricky, but when you know exactly what to do and how to do it, you’ll have no trouble keeping your glass items safe and sound during the move.

Here is how to pack glasses for moving so that they arrive in your new home intact and unscathed:

Get Appropriate Packing Supplies

Proper packing requires appropriate packing materials, of course. Therefore, your first step to ensuring the safety of your glasses during your house move is to get suitable packing supplies.

(No, old newspapers and used cardboard boxes you can easily get for free won’t do – you need quality wrapping and cushioning materials and sturdy moving containers that will keep your delicate glasses well protected during the relocation process.)

So, what to use to pack glasses?

1) Boxes for packing glasses

Any strong, medium-sized cardboard boxes will work just fine, but specialized dish boxes (also known as dish barrels or dish pack) are your best bet. They’re made of sturdier cardboard and have thicker walls than regular moving boxes – and they usually come with dividers for packing glasses.

The stronger the box is, the more unlikely it is to cave in when stacked under other boxes in the moving truck, break under the weight of the items inside it, or sustain some other kind of damage during the moving process. Therefore, thicker cardboard boxes provide better protection to your breakables.

What’s more, the cell dividers help keep the individual articles in the box in place and prevent them from coming in contact with one another during the transportation, further reducing the risk of damage to the fragile items.

If you cannot afford specialty cell boxes, however, you can do with regular moving boxes as well – just make sure they’re in good condition and prepare them well (see below for details).

2) Soft packing paper

Packing paper for glassware has to be as soft and smooth as possible, so it doesn’t scratch the delicate glass surface.

It will provide the first layer of protection to your glass items, so make sure you get a lot of wrapping paper and use it generously.

Do not give in to the temptation to substitute quality packing paper with old newspapers, however cost-effective the option may seem to be – packing glasses with newspaper is not a good idea, as the newsprint may leave ugly ink stains on the glass.

Newspapers, however, can be used to fill the empty spaces in the boxes after the glasses have been properly wrapped and arranged inside the moving cartons.

3) Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap is your best friend when it comes to protecting breakables and glasses make no exception. The bubbly material is especially useful when packing stemware.

4) Packing tape

You will need packing tape not only to reinforce the moving boxes and seal them tightly once they’re full, but also to keep the packing paper and bubble wrap in place when wrapping your glasses.

5) Permanent markers

Make sure you have permanent markers so you can easily label your glassware moving boxes and write all the necessary handling instructions.

Consider buying some large, brightly colored FRAGILE stickers as well.

Old towels, packing peanuts, foam sheets, and other types of cushioning and protective materials will also come in handy when packing glasses for moving.

Prepare the Glassware Moving Boxes

Once you have all the necessary packing supplies, be sure to take the time to properly prepare the boxes for packing glasses – it will take very little of your time but will go a long way towards ensuring the safety of your fragile glassware, especially if you’re using regular moving boxes:

• Reinforce the packing boxes – Double-tape the bottoms of the cardboard boxes you intend to use for packing glassware. This safety measure will ensure that the cartons don’t break under the weight of the packed glasses;
• Provide plenty of padding – Cover the bottom of each glassware packing box with a protective layer of crumpled paper. The thicker the cushioning, the better it will absorb shocks and vibrations during transportation, reducing the risk of damage to your glasses. Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, foam sheets, and all kinds of soft cloths will all do a good job creating an insulation layer on the bottom of the box, but crumpled newspaper is your cheapest option;
• Place the dividers (cells) on top of the crushed paper (if applicable).

Your glassware moving boxes are good and ready. It’s time to prepare the glasses.

Sort Out Your Glassware

Before you start packing dishes and glasses for moving, you need to go through all the cupboards and cabinets in your home and decide which of your china items and glass items to keep and which ones to get rid of prior to your move.

Once you’ve made up your mind, you’re advised to sort out the pieces you’re going to take with you and group them together by type:

• Arrange your entire glassware collection on a large, stable table (your dining room table will be perfect) and carefully inspect each and every piece – any cracked, chipped, badly stained, or otherwise damaged glasses are not worth the time, effort, and money required for their relocation and should be promptly recycled (unless they have great sentimental value, of course – you’ll probably want to keep your wedding glasses, even if they’re not in perfect condition);
• Sort out the glass items – set aside crystal pieces and other extremely valuable glassware, put sets together, and group all your other glassware by type – stem glasses, flat-bottomed drinking glasses, glass cups, glass bowls, glass vases, etc.

It’s recommendable to wash all the glasses you intend to move to your new home – just make sure they’re completely dry before you start packing them for moving.

How to Pack Glassware for Moving

So, what is the best way to pack glassware?

It depends on the type of glass items you’re packing, of course – even though the basic safety principles and packing methods remain the same.

You can find the best tips for packing glasses – according to the type of the glasses and their specifics – below:

How to Pack Drinking Glasses

The safest way to pack glasses for moving is to wrap each piece individually in soft packing paper and place it in a separate cell in the dish pack.

Step 1: How to wrap glasses for moving

• Place a soft blanket or a large towel on a flat, stable surface (like a table or a countertop);
• Lay out 2-3 sheets of soft packing paper on the cushioned surface;
• Place a glass on its side on top of the stack of paper, near one of the corners and diagonally to it. Consider stuffing the glass with crumpled paper first;
• Start rolling the glass in the paper, tucking the upper ends of the sheets into the opening of the glass as you go;
• Keep rolling until you reach the end of the paper sheets – your glass will be safely wrapped in several layers of paper;
• Fold over the lower ends of the paper sheets at the bottom of the glass;
• Use packing tape to secure the wrapping in place.

Wrapping glasses for moving is not a difficult task but it needs to be done with utmost care – a single mistake can turn your kitchen glasses into glass shards.

Step 2. How to pack glasses in a box

• Put the wrapped glasses in the previously prepared moving box, on top of the padding layer. Place the glasses upright, with their openings facing downwards. If you’re using a specialized dish pack with dividers, set each glass in a separate cell;
• When you’ve arranged a “layer” of glasses in the box, place some cushioning materials (crumpled paper, packing peanuts, soft cloths, etc.) in between the tumblers to make sure they’re completely immobile and insulated from one another;
• If there’s enough space in the box, you can add a second layer of glasses on top of the first one – just make sure you place the heavier tumblers on the bottom and cover them with a protective layer of bubble wrap or foam sheets before arranging the second layer of lighter glasses on top of them;
• Fill any empty spaces in the box with cushioning materials to prevent the glasses from shifting or bumping into each other during transit;
• Add a final layer of bubble wrap on top of the glasses and close the box (make sure the lid can be shut without pressing too much on the breakable glassware inside);
• Lift the carton and shake it gently to check for movement inside the box – if you notice any shifting, open the box, add more cushioning, and repeat the test;
• When you’re certain that nothing moves inside the box, seal the container tightly and secure it with quality packing tape;
• Use a permanent marker to label the box with its contents and destination room and write FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP, HANDLE WITH CARE, and any other handling instructions you deem necessary in BIG, BOLD letters so that the movers know that they need to be extra careful when carrying the box. You can also add “FRAGILE” stickers to all sides of the moving container and include arrows to show which way is up.

Good to know:

1) If you intend to pack glasses and dishes together in a box, make sure you pack the plates at the bottom (they’re heavier and sturdier) and the glasses – on top of them. (See also: How to pack dishes for moving)

2) When packing glass cups and glass bowls for moving, you can stack them inside one another – just make sure each individual piece has been properly wrapped in packing paper first.

Even though this is the best way to pack glasses for moving, it may not be enough to ensure the safety of all your glassware during the relocation process – it will work perfectly for flat-bottomed drinking glasses, but some glass items are more difficult to pack and require extra safety measures.

Keep reading to get more detailed information on how to pack up wine glasses, crystal items, glass tabletops, and other specialty glassware.

Bonus tip: How to pack glass vases for moving?

Wrap your glass vases the same way as you wrap tumblers for packing and put them in strong, properly cushioned boxes of appropriate sizes. Keep in mind that most vases are bigger and heavier than kitchen glasses, so, unlike tumblers, you cannot pack many of them in a single carton – oftentimes, you can put only one vase in a moving container.

Make sure the vases are completely immobilized and well cushioned before sealing and labeling the boxes.

You can find more detailed information on how to pack vases for moving here.

How to Pack Wine Glasses

Wine glasses, champagne glasses, cocktail glasses, and other stemmed glassware present an exceptional packing challenge – you need to not only keep the delicate glass bowls safe and sound, but to also find a way to prevent the thin, fragile stems from breaking during transit.

So, how to pack wine glasses for shipping so that they arrive in your new home in one piece?

1. Take care of the stems first – wrap the stem of the wine glass in a thick layer of bubble wrap and secure the wrapping in place with packing tape;
2. Stuff some crumpled paper into the glass bowl for extra support;
3. Wrap the entire wine glass in protective materials as described above;
4. Place only wine glasses in a box (preferably – a cell box) and use as much padding as necessary to keep them immobile and insulated from one another;
5. Seal the carton tightly and label it properly.

Your delicate stemware will survive the move in perfect condition as long as you remember that the best way to pack wine glasses is the safest way possible – wrap every single piece individually, place it upright in a separate cell, and provide plenty of cushioning.

If you’re using a regular cardboard box, arrange the stemmed pieces tightly one next to the other over the padding layer on the bottom of the carton and add lots of cushioning to keep the glasses safely in place during the transportation.

Do not forget to create a thick protective layer on top of the glasses, seal the box well, and label it with all the necessary handling instructions.

Your stem glasses will be as safe as houses during your house move.

Bonus tip: If you’re wondering how to pack crystal stemware for moving so that your valuable glasses sustain no damage during the relocation process, make sure you purchase specialized cell boxes and follow the steps above as precisely as you can.

Packing crystal glasses for moving is no different than packing any other glasses, but you need to be extra careful, use only the highest quality packing materials, provide a lot of cushioning, and never pack your exceptionally delicate pieces together with everyday kitchen glasses and plates – you may even want to use crates for your most valuable crystal items.

You’re also strongly advised to buy additional moving insurance for crystal bowls, glasses, and vases.

How to Pack a Glass Table Top for Moving

Packing a glass tabletop is more similar to packing a large mirror than to packing glasses and cups:

1) Remove the glass top from the table – depending on the type of your furniture piece, you may be able to simply lift the top or you may have to unscrew it from the base of the table.

2) Use masking tape (it won’t leave sticky residue on the delicate glass surface) to create a square grid pattern on both sides of the tabletop – this will add some extra strength to the glass and will keep the shards in place if the top breaks during transit.

3) Place a piece of thick cardboard (large enough to cover the entire surface) on each side of the tabletop.

4) Wrap the entire glass top in packing paper and secure the wrapping with tape.

5) Cover the paper-wrapped table top with large size bubble wrap or moving blankets. Use plenty of packing tape to hold the protective coverings in place.

6) For maximum protection, place the wrapped tabletop in a telescopic box of appropriate size.

If you don’t have such a specialized moving container, you can flatten a regular cardboard box that is slightly larger than your glass tabletop and cut one of its sides so that you have a large, flat piece of cardboard.

Place the glass top in the center and fold the cardboard around it. Ensure the cardboard covers the tabletop completely and perfectly fits around the glass piece (trim any excess cardboard if necessary).

Secure the cardboard with packing tape. 

7) Write “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE” on both sides of the box.

If you follow the above tips for packing glasses for moving, your glassware will have every chance to survive the move in one piece and arrive at your new home intact and unscathed. Keep in mind though that packing glasses for a move is a difficult and risky task that is better left to the pros.

It’s up to you to decide whether to use professional packing services or pack your glasses yourself (you do know how to properly pack glassware for moving, after all) – just be sure to choose wisely, so you can raise a glass of champagne to your successful relocation and your bright new life!